Arctic Microbial Resources: Treasure House for Bioprospecting

Sai Mahesh Kumar  Senthil Kumar; Radhakrishnan Manikkam; Kishore kumar Annamalai; Manigundan  Kaari

doi:10.56093/aaz.v65i2.177452

Authors

Sai Mahesh Kumar Senthil Kumar Centre for Drug Discovery and Development, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai 600 119. Tamil Nadu. India
Radhakrishnan Manikkam Centre for Drug Discovery and Development, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai 600 119. Tamil Nadu. India
Kishore kumar Annamalai Centre for Drug Discovery and Development, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai 600 119. Tamil Nadu. India
Manigundan Kaari Department of Applied Bioscience, Dong-A University, Busan 49315, South Korea

https://doi.org/10.56093/aaz.v65i2.177452

Keywords:

Polar region, Arctic, Microbial diversity, Adaptation, Bioprospecting, Psychrophiles

Abstract

The Arctic region is one of the most extreme and rapidly transforming environments on Earth, characterized by low temperatures, extreme seasonal variations in light and accelerated warming that significantly influence fragile ecosystems. Microbial populations found in Arctic ecosystem play a crucial role in driving biogeochemical cycle. As such, polar microbes, serve as sensitive indicators of climate change and have the potential to be valuable resources for bioprospecting. Microorganisms that thrive in cold conditions, known as psychrophiles and psychrotolerants, have developed unique molecular adaptations, such as cold-active enzymes, antifreeze proteins, exopolysaccharides, pigments, and secondary metabolites, that provide significant biotechnological benefits across various industries, including pharmaceuticals, food production, bioremediation, and sustainable chemistry. This review delivers an in-depth synthesis of the diversity of Arctic microorganisms and their potential for bioprospecting. The coverage includes bacteria, archaea, cyanobacteria, microalgae, fungi, and viruses across terrestrial, cryospheric, and marine. The review also addresses challenges associated with climate-driven changes and ethical considerations related to polar resource exploration, while outlining future possibilities for sustainable biotechnological utilization.

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Author Biographies

Sai Mahesh Kumar Senthil Kumar, Centre for Drug Discovery and Development, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai 600 119. Tamil Nadu. India

Sai Mahesh Kumar is a marine biotechnologist focusing on bacterial collections from the Arctic and Antarctic Oceans for various biotechnological applications. His doctoral research centers on Arctic microbes, specifically their anti-infective properties, cold-active enzymes, and potential for plant growth promotion
Radhakrishnan Manikkam, Centre for Drug Discovery and Development, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai 600 119. Tamil Nadu. India

Radhakrishnan Manikkam is a microbiologist specializing in microbial bioprospecting, specifically focusing on actinobacteria from understudied habitats in India and polar regions to support sustainable development in health, environment, and agriculture. Notably, he participated in the first-ever Indian Arctic Winter Expedition in 2024, where he studied actinobacterial and general bacterial diversity in the High-Arctic region of Ny-Ålesund to understand their adaptation strategies during the polar nights. His research involves isolating psychrophilic microbes from these regions to explore their biotechnological potential, including the production of cold-active enzymes, pigments, and exopolysaccharides, as well as their role in plant growth promotion.
Kishore kumar Annamalai, Centre for Drug Discovery and Development, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai 600 119. Tamil Nadu. India

A. Kishore Kumar is a microbiologist investigating bacterial resources from both contaminated and pristine sites, including the Indian Himalayan region, to develop biosurfactants for pollutant degradation and agricultural use.
Manigundan Kaari, Department of Applied Bioscience, Dong-A University, Busan 49315, South Korea

Manigundan Kaari, a Post-Doctoral Researcher, focuses on plant-microbe interactions and the development of Synthetic Microbial Communities (SynCom) for sustainable agriculture. Having participated in the 2023 Indian Arctic Summer Expedition, Dr. Kaari also studies rhizosphere bacterial diversity in Ny-Ålesund to further understand microbial contributions to global ecosystems

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